World Food Day is celebrated every year on 16 October to raise awareness and take action against hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition, as well as to promote sustainable food systems for a better future for all.
The theme for World Food Day 2025 is “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future.”
As the world’s population continues to grow, much more effort and innovation will be urgently needed to sustainably increase agricultural production, improve the global supply chain, reduce food losses and waste, and ensure that all who suffer from hunger and malnutrition have access to nutritious food.
Extreme poverty and hunger are predominantly rural, with smallholder farmers and their families making up a significant proportion of the poor and hungry. Eradicating poverty and hunger is therefore closely linked to boosting food production, agricultural productivity, and rural incomes. Read more
Agrifood systems are facing unprecedented challenges. Conflict, extreme weather and climate impacts, economic shocks, and rising inequality are putting mounting pressure on the land we farm, the water we depend on, and the biodiversity that sustains life. Supply chains remain fragile, and the effects of disruption are being felt in homes, markets, and fields worldwide. It has been five years since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and only five years remain until the 2030 deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Yet food and nutrition insecurity continue to pose pressing global challenges. Many countries are still grappling with recurring crises driven by climate change, high food prices, and conflict, all of which undermine access to the healthy, nutritious food people need to thrive.
There is, however, great potential to enhance agriculture, particularly for small-scale farmers who often cannot even meet their own needs. Many NGOs are working in this vital field to help communities overcome poverty and underdevelopment. At the same time, agriculture is also the sector where development cooperation has seen some of its most spectacular failures. More than one ecological disaster has been worsened or even caused by well-meaning projects.
In this article, we share six tips for your proposal in the agricultural sector to convince donors that your initiative will generate only positive outcomes and deserves to be a winning one.
Sustainability has become a buzzword in the last decade, as more and more people realize how important it is to think in the long run. This is particularly important when it comes to agriculture. Projects need to be sustainable, for the communities as well as for the environment. Make sure that it is clear in your proposal that you thought about the issue of sustainability and have made a good plan for it.
Agriculture is an area that is closely tied to many others. It touches on many cross-cutting themes. When people do not have enough nutritious food to eat, their health is affected. When farmers do not make enough money, children cannot go to school. Make sure you know all the interconnections and point them out in your proposal to show the various positive effects your project will have on the entire community.
Especially in the agricultural sector, there is a lot of research going on to make sure processes, products, and techniques are further developed. Make sure you are always up to date and use the newest scientific data and case studies to back up your claims in your proposal. This way you show the donor that you are an expert in your field and that you know what you are doing,
The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number two states that there should be zero hunger by the year 2030. Food insecurity can only be overcome with better agriculture, so make sure to draw this connection in your proposal. There are also other SDGs that you can mention, like the first one (end poverty) or the third one (good health and well-being).
While you should consider the newest scientific results when planning your project, you should also take into consideration the local knowledge the beneficiaries have. Make sure to include them in every stage of the planning and implementation process, so you can achieve the best mix of modern technology and traditional and locally appropriate techniques. Consider using participatory methods like the Rapid Rural Appraisal or Participatory Learning and Action to make sure you work with every stakeholder.
You should have a close look at risks and assumptions in every proposal, but this becomes particularly important in the context of agricultural projects. If you introduce a new crop or a new technique, this can have profound impacts on the ecosystem. New tilling machines can cause severe soil erosion if they are not apt for the region. Make sure the donor understands that you took all of this into consideration and how you reach your conclusions.
Best of luck with your proposal!
Here you can find free proposal samples and templates as well as tips on writing the perfect proposal.
Eva is based in Germany and has worked for nearly a decade with NGOs on the grassroots level in Nepal in the field of capacity development and promotion of sustainable agricultural practices. Before that, she worked in South America and Europe with different organizations. She holds a Ph.D. in geography and her field of research was sustainability and inclusion in development projects.
Hi, thanks for the tips. Quite helful. Please, can you assist with links to possibly available funding opportunities for Agriculture and startup farmers like myself in Nigeria. Thanks
Hello Daniel,
please see this link from our partner FundsforNGOs for opportunities from the field of agriculture. Best of luck for your applications
Thanks Eva,
Will check out opportunity and apply.
Appreciated.
nice thought .helpful ideas ..
Hello Banes:
I am glad you found this article helpful!